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and assisted in the execution of an eminent preacher of the gospel. Breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, he had sought and obtained from the Jewish high priest a commission to bind and bring to Jerusalem for public punishment all, both men and women, whom he found professing the faith of Jesus Christ. And for the execution of this bloody commission, he was now going to Damascus. His zeal against the gospel was, at this time, wound up to the highest strain. Who would suspect, that this man should become a Christian ?-But so it was: When he came near to Damascus, he was, at noon day, suddenly surprized with a light from heaven, far exceeding the brightness of the sun. This was followed with an articulate voice, calling him by name, expostulating with him for his persecution of the church of Christ, and warning him of the ruin which he would bring on himself. Struck with conviction of his guilt, Paul inquired, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" The same voice directed him to proceed on his journey into the city, where he should meet with instructions adapted to his case. In consequence of this vision he fell blind. He was led by some of the company which attended him, into the city. There he spent his time in prayer. After some days a Christian disciple came to him, related to him the purpose of the vision, and restored him to his sight by laying his hands on him in the name of Christ. Soon after this, Paul became a preacher of the gospel. That this wonderful scene was real, and not imaginary, no man can reasonably doubt.

There is nothing, in Paul's conduct or writings, that savours of fanaticism: But, on the contrary, he uniformly appears to have possessed a good understanding and a sound judgment. If he had been an enthusiast, yet he never would have fancied a revelation in opposition to his religious principles, his worldly interest, and all his strong prejudices. Enthusiasm never takes

this turn, but always falls in with some previous passion, interest or humour.

Paul was now actually engaged in a design to extir. pate Christianity, and he was persuaded, that his design was laudable. If he had been a fanatic, he might have fancied a revelation in favor of his design; but it was impossible that imagination should create a light and voice in direct opposition to a design, which he had so much at heart, and which he thought so pious.

Besides: This whole scene was open and public, and attended with none of those circumstances of secrecy and disguise, which usually attend the revelations of enthusiasts and impostors. It took place, not in the night, but in full day-not in a private apartment, or retired desert, but in the high road, and near a populous city-not when Paul was alone, but when he was in the company of a number of people, who all saw the light and heard the voice, as well as he, though they understood not the words which were spoken. And these were not Christians, but enemies to Christianity, as well as he.

Nothing can be more absurd, than to suppose, that a number of men, all violent opposers of the gospel should happen, all at the same moment, to fancy, that they saw a light, and heard a voice in confirmation of the gospel, and that one of them fell blind, and continued so for several days, if no such thing had taken place.

That this story was not a fiction of the writer, but a fact fully believed by him, is as evident, as any ancient historical fact can possibly be. It is publicly asserted by Luke soon after it is said to have happened; and the time, place and circumstances are pointed out; so that it might easily have been disproved, if it had not been true. Paul himself, in two of his public defences, and in the presence of numbers of Jews, relates the story, and appeals to it as a proof of his Apostleship, which he would not have done, if there had not

been full evidence of the truth of it. He alludes to it also in several of his epistles, which shews, that it was then fully believed in the churches.

This vision produced in Paul a mighty change. From this time he became a firm, unwavering believ er, and a zealous, intrepid preacher of the gospel. He openly professed his faith, that Jesus was the Son of God; and he immediately received baptism, the instituted badge of discipleship. And, being divinely instructed, that he was appointed a minister and witness of Jesus, he straightway preached him in Damascus, proving that he was the very Christ foretold by the prophets. From Damascus, where he first began his ministry, and where he soon found his life in danger, he privately escaped to Jerusalem. There he joined the other Apostles, and spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. Afterward, being ordained by certain prophets and teachers of the church as an Apostle of the Gentiles, he travelled through the various provinces of the lesser Asia: Then he passed into Europe and visited the most noted places in ancient Greece: From thence he went into Syria, and returned to Jerusalem. Afterwards he went over a considerable part of the same ground again, confirming the churches, which he had planted.

Wherever he went, he boldly preached this new re ligion in the most conspicuous places, especially in the Jewish synagogues; for there were Jews dispersed in all parts of the Roman empire. In many places he met with great opposition, chiefly from the malice of the Jews. He was imprisoned, tortured, whipped, stoned, and once handled so violently that he fell, and was dragged away for dead. But none of these things moved him, neither counted he his own life dear to him, that so he might finish with joy the ministry which he had received. God wrought special miracies by his hands in expelling evil spirits, healing the sick and raising the dead. In many places, churches under his VOL. III.

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mend himself, but rather out of a general benevolence to mankind; for this man was a chosen vessel—a suitable instrument to convey Christ's name among them. Jesus miraculously appeared to him to make him a minister of the gospel, and a witness of those facts by which its truth is supported. And having furnished him for his work, Jesus sent him forth to publish the doctrines, and display the evidences of the gospel among the people of the Jews, and among the Heathen nations.

The words teach us, that "the Apostle Paul was a notable and illustrious instrument in spreading the knowledge and confirming the truth of the religion of Christ." Such he appears from the history given of him in the Acts of the Apostles, and from the writings which he himself has left for the use of the church.

My design is to give a summary view of the evidences of Christianity, and particularly to illustrate the evidences derived from the conversion, preaching and writings of this eminent minister and witness.

The Christian religion does now exist, and for many ages it has existed in the world. To account for its existence, without admitting its truth, it is impossible: For it did not take place by the influence of human authority, or the terror of military power, but by familiar instructions and obvious miracles. The credit of it depends on these plain facts-that about eighteen hundred years ago, there arose in Judea an extraordinary person, called Jesus of Nazareth, who declared himself to be divinely sent into the world, as an instructor, reformer and Saviour of men-that he lived a most virtuous and holy life-that he taught a religion in some respects new, in many respects more perfect than had ever been taught before, and in all respects pure and excellent that he wrought many great and astonishing miracles-that he foretold many things, humanly improbable, which were verified by events that he suffered death by a public crucifixion, and, on the third day,

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